Imagine sinking your teeth into a warm, perfectly crafted loaf of bread that tells a story with every bite. Grammy's Four Grain Bread isn't just a recipe—it's a culinary journey that transforms simple ingredients into a masterpiece of texture and flavor. This isn't your ordinary bread; it's a symphony of whole wheat, bread flour, oats, and cornmeal that promises to elevate your baking skills and tantalize your taste buds like never before!
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Total Time: 1 hrs
Cuisine: American
Serves: 1 loaf
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tsp active dry yeast
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup bread flour
- ½ cup oats
- ¼ cup cornmeal
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water (around 110°F) and honey. Sprinkle active dry yeast over the surface and let sit for 5-10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy and fragrant, indicating the yeast is activated.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together whole wheat flour, bread flour, oats, cornmeal, and salt to create a uniform dry ingredient mixture.
- Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the yeast mixture, stirring with a wooden spoon or using a stand mixer with a dough hook until a shaggy dough forms.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until the dough becomes smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky but not sticky. The dough should spring back when gently pressed.
- Place the kneaded dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm, draft-free area for about 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
- Punch down the risen dough to release air bubbles, then shape into a loaf and place in a greased 9x5 inch loaf pan.
- Cover the loaf and let it rise again for 30-45 minutes until it has risen just above the rim of the pan.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) about 15 minutes before baking.
- Optional: Score the top of the loaf with a sharp knife to allow for expansion during baking.
- Bake the bread for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Tips
- • Temperature is key! Ensure your water is precisely 110°F to activate the yeast without killing it. • Don't rush the rising process. Patience allows the flavors to develop and the bread to achieve its perfect texture. • Use a kitchen scale for most accurate ingredient measurements. • Create a warm, draft-free environment for rising by placing the dough in a turned-off oven with the light on. • Check bread doneness by tapping the bottom—a hollow sound means it's perfectly baked. • Let the bread cool completely before slicing to maintain its structure and moisture. • Store in an airtight container to keep the bread fresh for 3-4 days.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 180kcal
Carbohydrates: 35g
Protein: 6g
Fat: 2g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: 0mg
